10 of out 10: Oscar's acrobatics brought football's theatrical dark arts back to centre stage... but the game's worst ever dives would make Tom Daley proud

Diving is back under the microscope after a host of recent acrobatics from some of the biggest talents in the Premier League.

Oscar’s effort against Southampton was enough to make Tom Daley proud. In fact, Daley’s Splash! returns to our TV screens on Saturday night. We wonder what he would make of this lot - by our reckoning the 10 worst dives in history...

JURGEN KLINSMANN

Jurgen Klinsmann was perhaps the first global star to come under the microscope for the dark arts after a theatrical fall led to a red card for Argentina’s Pedro Monzon in Germany’s 1-0 victory in the 1990 World Cup Final in Italy.

Conned: Jurgen Klinsmann went aerial over Argentina's Pedro Monzon's challenge in the World Cup

To this day, the German disputes the accusation: ‘If he didn’t make contact with me,’ he asks, ‘how come I had a 15-centimetre gash in my shin?’

Klinsmann was aware, however, of his reputation, famously marking his first Tottenham goal with a ‘diving’ celebration.

VIDEO: Watch Tottenham legend Jurgen Klinsmann get air and Pedro Monzon sent off

NORBERT MEIER

Another one from the German archives as Duisberg manager Norbert Meier comically clashed with Cologne’s Albert Streit in 2005.

The two squared up in the technical area, with Meier nudging his head into Streit before then proceeding to dramatically fall backwards, suggesting that the player had initiated the contact.

The manager was sacked two days later and handed a three month ban from management by the German FA.

As for the player, he may not be so innocent after all - he was sent off earlier this year after clashing with Fabian Gotze, the brother of Bayern star Mario.

You're off: Sheffield Wednesday's Paulo Di Canio is sent off by referee Paul Alcock against Arsenal in 1998

Tumble: Di Canio's push got him an 11-match ban, while Alcock's fall was compared to pantomime

RIVALDO

An Oscar-winning performance from Rivaldo at the 2002 World Cup, as he clutches his face after Turkish player Hakan Unsal kicked the ball at his leg while he was waiting to take a corner in the closing moments of the Group C clash.

The Brazilian superstar was handed a £5,180 fine. He commented: ‘Obviously the ball didn’t hit me in the face, but I was still the victim. I did not hit anyone in the face. I was both the victim and the person who got fined. Nobody remembers what the Turk did.’

VIDEO: Scroll down for Brazil's Rivaldo making a goose of himself against Turkey in 2002

Overreacting: Rivaldo got hit in the legs by the ball but went down like he'd been smashed in the face

CRISTIANO RONALDO

Soap-opera histrionics from Cristiano Ronaldo in a Champions League clash against AC Milan.

Ignazio Abate brushes his chin and Ronaldo collapses to the floor and treats the watching audience to four rolls, and an extra one for show once Howard Webb was on the scene.

VIDEO: Watch Ronaldo's rare moment of non-genius with some theatrics against AC Milan

On a roll: Cristiano Ronaldo tried to get the ball from AC Milan's Ignazio Abate but ended up writhing about

OSCAR

Elevated in status by being so fresh in the mind, Oscar was rightly punished with a booking for his dive on New Year's Day against Southampton having just come off the bench.

The Brazilian's usually deft touch around goalkeeper Kelvin Davis wasn't a good one and without being touched he clipped his heels together and did his best dolphin impression.

Referee Martin Atkinson was no fool and brandished a yellow card, then was surprisingly backed by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho after the match.

VIDEO: See Chelsea's Oscar try it on, with no joy, in the penalty area against Southampton

Sniper: Oscar goes over in the penalty area without any help from Southampton's Kelvin Davis

A beast of a footballer and physically indomitable but Drogba’s gift for stagecraft often left a sour taste for fans.

When Napoli’s Salvatore Aronica’s elbow strikes him on the top of his arm, Drogba goes down clutching his face.

In the most damning caption, Drogba then opens an eye while on the deck to check what the referee is doing.

VIDEO: See Didier Drogba in his Chelsea pomp go over with a bit too much fanfare

Grounded: Chelsea's Didier Drogba went down holding his face after getting an elbow on his arm

Cheeky: Drogba couldn't help but have a little look to see what action was being taken against Napoli

MORTEN GAMST PEDERSEN

Particularly bonkers, this one. Blackburn’s Morten Gamst Pedersen runs through on goal against Arsenal, pursed by Bacary Sagna, and proceeds to hit the deck.

Unfortunately for Pedersen, Sagna is about a yard and a half behind him as he hits the ground and the Norwegian’s pleas to referee Phil Dowd fall on deaf ears.

If you watch closely, it seems that Pedersen might have clipped his own legs and perhaps believes that Sagna has clipped him. Maybe we can give Pedersen the benefit of the doubt on this one.

Not even close: Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen goes down in the bow without a touch against Arsenal

ARTURO VIDAL

We may just have saved the best till last. Playing for Juventus against Real Madrid earlier this season, Arturo Vidal completely missed the ball, his boot instead cutting into the Santiago Bernabeu turf and taking a golf-style divet.

Vidal was sent flying, but then, with no defender with touching distance, the Chilean then started yelling in the referee’s direction, appealing for a penalty kick.

VIDEO: See Arturo Vidal make no friends of Real Madrid or the groundskeepers

Divot: A miss-kick and a massive chunk of turf mark the dive of Juventus's Arturo Vidal as a memorable one